Finnish presidential election, 2018

National Coalition Party

The incumbent President Sauli Niinistö, of the National Coalition Party, is eligible for re-election and will announce his decision a year before the election. Some names have been speculated, if Niinistö won't seek for another term, including the former Minister of Finance Alexander Stubb and former Minister for Foreign Affairs Ilkka Kanerva.

Centre Party

The Centre Party decided on 30 November 2015 that the party would choose their presidential candidate already in June 2016. Soon after, former Prime Minister and Centre Party's presidential candidate in 2006 election, Matti Vanhanen, announced that he would run for candidacy. Prime Minister Juha Sipilä and veteral politician Paavo Väyrynen both declined their interest early on. Other prominent names in speculations for the candidacy were former Prime Minister Esko Aho and incumbent Minister of Economic Affairs Olli Rehn. Rehn declined the possibility stating that it wouldn't be possible to combine his duties as cabinet minister with campaigning. Aho did not comment his interest in candidacy, but it was considered unlikely for him to seek presidential nomination, as he was a candidate for the Supervisory Board of Sberbank at the time.

As no challengers appeared till the deadline of 11 May, Vanhanen was the sole candidate in June's party congress and was confirmed as the Centre Party's candidate in the presidential election. Vanhanen has said that his candidacy is motivated by the support he felt he had around the country during his last campaign and the will to improve the security situation in the areas surrounding Finland.

Finns Party

The Finns Party is likely to choose their candidate in summer 2017. The leader of the Finns Party Timo Soini announced early on in November 2014 that he would not seek candidacy in the 2018 presidential election, after getting 3,43 % and 9,4 % of votes in 2006 and 2012 presidential elections respectively. He reaffirmed his decision in April 2016, encouraging party to move on and inviting new faces to enter party's primaries. As Soini has been a strong face for the Finns Party, his decision sparked much speculation on the party's decision, as party's presidential candidate can possibly be the next chairman after Soini.

In March 2017, Soini announced that he would not seek another term as the leader of the party. Soon after, the chairman of the parliamentery group Sampo Terho announced that he would seek chairmanship and, if elected, also presidential candidacy. Member of the European Parliament Jussi Halla-aho, Minister of Defence Jussi Niinistö and Speaker of the Parliament Maria Lohela have also expressed their interest in candidacy, while Minister of Justice and Labor Jari Lindström has declined.

Green League

The party 2012 presidential candidate, Pekka Haavisto, announced in February 2017 that he will reprise his candidacy. The decision came after Haavisto had been approached multiple times by the Green Party. Previously the party leader Ville Niinistö had stated that he would not seek the candidacy. Haavisto was confirmed as the party's candidate on 12 February.

Left Alliance

The Left Alliance will choose their candidate in March 2017. So far only MEP Merja Kyllönen has announced her candidacy. Former leader of the party Paavo Arhinmäki was also interested in running early on, but later decided to concentrate on running for the office of Mayor of Helsinki.

Social Democratic Party

The Social Democratic Party is likely to choose their candidate during spring 2017. From early on, there was speculation on two possible candidates, Eero Heinäluoma and Jutta Urpilainen. In June 2016, Heinäluoma announced that he would not seek presidency due to his wife's recent death and ongoing work in the Parliament. In February 2017, Urpilainen announced she would not seek presidency. Also the leader of the party Antti Rinne, the Governor of the Bank of Finland Erkki Liikanen and MEP Liisa Jaakonsaari have announced that they would not enter the presidential race.

There have also been talks within SDP on supporting a candidate outside the party, such as archbishop Kari Mäkinen or the incumbent president Sauli Niinistö.

Swedish People's Party

The Swedish People's Party has not yet set a date for the party primary. In Spring 2016, then leader of the party, Carl Haglund stated that he was thinking about candidacy, but renounced his leadership and left the politics later that year.

Christian Democrats

The Christian Democrats have not yet set a date for the party primary. It has been speculated that the leader of the party and former presidential candidate Sari Essayah might run again.